Time for a Reset: Following Jesus and His Commands

01/26/25 • 57 min

This week at Myrtle House Community Church, Ellen delivered a thought-provoking message titled "Time for a Reset." She challenged us to reflect on our walk with Jesus and ask ourselves: What do we want to do for Him? The Word of God is our guide, helping us understand all that He has for us. But are we true to who we are in Christ? Are we living in obedience to His commands? These are the questions that should stir our hearts and minds as we seek to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. Taking Stock: A Call to Reflection Sometimes, we need to pause and take stock of our lives. Are we truly living for Jesus? Are we sharing His love with others? Who is following our example? How can we play our part in expanding the Kingdom of God? The answer lies in prayer. Prayer is our direct communication with God and the foundation of our faith journey. It is through prayer that we align our lives with God's will and reset our focus on what truly matters. Jesus' Commands: A Daily Commitment The Bible is filled with Jesus' teachings and commands—clear instructions on how we should live our lives. A command is not an option; it is a directive to be followed daily. Ellen highlighted several key passages that remind us of what Jesus asks of us: Matthew 4:17 – "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near." We are called to be a people of repentance. Matthew 4:19 – Jesus says, "Come, follow me," inviting us to become more like Him. Matthew 5:16 – "Let your light shine before all people." Are we shining brightly and reflecting Jesus? Matthew 5:37 – Are we people of integrity, keeping our word? Matthew 5:40-42 – Jesus challenges us to go the extra mile and serve others beyond expectations. Matthew 5:43-44 – "Love your enemies." God's strength enables us to love even the most difficult people. Matthew 6:33 – "Seek first the Kingdom of God." Are we putting Him first in our lives? Matthew 7:7 – We are called to ask, seek, and knock—trusting God with our needs. Matthew 28:19-20 – Jesus commands us to "make disciples of all nations." Are we actively doing this? A Lifestyle of Following Jesus Living for Jesus is not just about knowing His commands; it's about putting them into action. Our lifestyles tell a story—do they reflect Christ's love, grace, and truth? Jesus calls us to: Be hungry and thirsty for the things of God (John 6:35). Guard our hearts and minds (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). Love our neighbours as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). Stay alert and keep watch (Matthew 13:33-37). Deny ourselves and put others first (Luke 9:23-24). A Wake-Up Call: What is Jesus Saying to You Today? As we reflect on these scriptures, we must ask ourselves: What is Jesus calling me to change? Where do I need to tighten up? Am I living with fervour and passion for Him? Am I following Jesus wholeheartedly? Each of us has an assignment—to follow Jesus and His commands, to live with compassion and power, and to bring Him glory in all we do. Moving Forward: How Do We Reset? The key to resetting our spiritual walk is found in: Prayer – Spending intentional time communicating with God. The Word – Immersing ourselves in scripture and allowing it to shape our lives. Obedience – Acting on what we know Jesus has called us to do. Community – Walking alongside others in faith, encouraging one another. Conclusion: Bringing Glory to Jesus At the end of the day, our goal is to bring Jesus glory and to become more like Him each day. As we take time to reset, let’s ask ourselves: What do I want to do for Jesus? Let’s be people who pray, who love, who serve, and who share His message with the world. It’s time to get up, be awakened, and step into all that God has for us. Let’s reset our focus and commit to following Jesus with all our hearts.

Previous Episode

From Lament to Praise: A New Song in Our Hearts

This week, Martin followed up on last week’s message by exploring the journey from lament to praise. The title of the sermon, “The Prayer of Lament Leads Us to Praise,” reminds us that even in our moments of sorrow and struggle, God is present—lifting us up and placing a new song in our hearts. The Honesty of Lament Lament is an honest place. It’s where we acknowledge the reality of where we’ve been and what has hurt us—whether it be people, circumstances, or events. Psalm 40 beautifully captures this journey: “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.” — Psalm 40:1-2 NLT Just like the U2 song ‘40’, based on Psalm 40, asks, “How long to sing this song?”—we, too, may wonder how long we will remain in a place of lament. But the good news is that God steps in, lifting us up and putting a new song of praise in our hearts. The Journey from Lament to Praise When we allow our prayers of lament to lead us into praise, we begin to see life differently. A new perspective forms, one rooted in trust in the Lord. The process moves us from despair to joy, from sorrow to celebration, because we realise: God is always with us—past, present, and future. We cannot be separated from His love and faithfulness. He turns our mourning into dancing, our lament into praise. As Psalm 40 reminds us, God is the One who sets our feet on solid ground, giving us a firm place to stand. He doesn’t leave us in our troubles—He leads us to delight in doing His will. From Fasting to Feasting In Luke 5:33-39, we see John the Baptist’s disciples focused on fasting—a practice of spiritual preparation and repentance, as seen throughout scripture (Esther 4:16, Joel 1:14). However, Jesus reminds them that the time for mourning has passed, for He is already present. “No need to fast,” Jesus says. It’s time to celebrate and feast. There is a time for prayer and fasting—for preparation, repentance, and consecration. But there is also a time for prayer and feasting—to rejoice in the presence of Jesus. Just as Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 reminds us: “For everything there is a season... a time to cry and a time to laugh, a time to grieve and a time to dance.” Now is our time to dance! A Call to Celebration Using the film Footloose as an illustration, Martin encouraged us that it’s time to step into celebration. The prayer of lament leads us to joyfulness, to dancing, and to a life lived in the fullness of Christ. This is our time to: Dance in His presence. Live life to the full. Sing a new song of gladness and joy. Declare that Jesus is Lord. Living in His Presence Whether we are in a season of lament or praise, we are reminded that Jesus is present in every moment—past, present, and future. His presence is constant, and His love is unchanging. As we move from lament to praise, let’s embrace this time to celebrate, trusting that He has placed our feet on solid ground. Let’s lift our voices in praise and declare that our God is great! So, are you ready to dance?

Next Episode

Total Transformation: How God Changes Us from the Inside Out

This Sunday at Myrtle House Community Church, we were blessed with a powerful and challenging message from Ellen on transformation—transformation in us that leads to transformation in our communities. God Looks at the Heart “When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, ‘Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:6-7) How often do we focus on outward appearances? Whether it’s how we look or how others look, we can be guilty of seeing people from a human perspective. But God looks at the heart. He calls us to do the same—to see people as He sees them, beyond the surface, to the very core of who they are. Personal Transformation Leads to Community Transformation Transformation doesn’t begin externally; it starts within. We cannot expect to see change in our families, communities, and workplaces unless we allow God to change us first. “Whatever you sow, you will reap. If you love well, you will be loved well.” We experience a transformation of the heart when we receive Christ—we become a new creation. “So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:16-17) Through Christ, we are born again—not into a temporary existence, but into eternal life (1 Peter 1:23). This is not just a moment of change but an ongoing transformation as we grow in faith and live out the calling God has placed on our lives. A Call to Live Differently Romans 12:1-2 urges us: “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Transformation starts in the mind. Every action we take begins with a thought. Are we choosing thoughts that align with Christ? Are we making choices that reflect His way rather than the world’s way? We don’t have to live in sin. While we are human and will make mistakes, we are no longer slaves to sin. We have the power, through Christ, to recognise what is wrong, repent, and make a change. Do what is right. Refuse to do what is wrong. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and actions. Our behaviour should reflect Jesus—in humility, in servanthood, in love. We are called to be living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to Him. Shining Brightly for Christ Romans 12:3-21 reminds us to live differently—to choose humility, to love sincerely, to honour others above ourselves, and to let our lives be a light in the darkness. When we are in constant conversation with God, He changes us—moment by moment, day by day, year by year. Listen to Him. Be transformed. Let Him renew your mind. Do not copy the behaviour of the world, but shine brightly for Jesus. The world desperately needs to know there is a Saviour and Lord, and you and I have the keys to transformation through Jesus. We are a new creation, called to truly reflect Jesus in every aspect of our lives.